The Clan Trial of Abjuration (sometimes known as the Ritual of Abjuration[1]) is a ritual in which a Clan's single bloodname or even all of its bloodnames are erased from all Clan records as if they never existed. A Trial of Abjuration may also be decided by combat between two Clans; in this case, all of the losing Clan's bloodnames are erased from all records as stated above.[2]

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The origin of this Trial comes from an incident in the early 29th Century, when Ellie Kinnison, the first Khan of Clan Steel Viper, attempted to assassinate Jennifer Winson, the wife of ilKhanNicholas Kerensky. As punishment for this misdeed, Kerensky ordered Kinnison's name be stricken from all Clan records and her genetic legacy destroyed.

When a bloodname is stricken from Clan rolls, all genetic samples associated with that bloodname may be destroyed, all sibkos containing genetic material associated with the bloodname may be terminated, and all warriors bearing the bloodname may be executed, as in a Trial of Annihilation. However, all persons associated with the stricken bloodname may have their lives spared, so that they may live their lives in shame and dishonor, which is a fate worse than death in the eyes of the Clans. Any property in use by persons with the dishonored bloodname(s) is confiscated and reassigned.

Though originally devised to destroy genetic material, over time the Ritual of Abjuration has evolved into a rite any caste can call. The accused party appears before the appropriate Clan or caste council, or is tried in absentia. A caste council can Abjure one or more members without involving any other councils, but only a Clan council can abjure a group of individuals from several castes. The Clan's Grand Council can (and has) Abjure an entire Clan.[1]

If the appropriate council has a four-fifths majority in favor of Abjurement, the accused is Abjured. When an individual is Abjured, they have five days to return any belongings that aren't theirs to storage (usually weapons, armor, and tools). The Abjured individual is then allowed to leave Clan-held territory. If they're still in Clan space after five days they will be imprisoned or executed. A convicted individual may challenge the ruling directly (if a warrior), while a member of a different caste can appeal the decision to the next highest council. Lest the Abjured believe this appeal is a reprieve, the five day time limit still counts down while the appeal is in process. This usually means that if the appeal is denied, the Abjured will be arrested on the spot.[1]

Though it may seem as deadly as the Trial of Annihilation, using the Ritual of Abjuration is usually seen as a way for an errant Clansman to return to the fold. Abjured Clansman, unlike those of the Not-Named Clan, are Clansman who have wandered from the way of the Clans without rejecting them entirely. The best examples of such warriors are Clan Nova Cat and Clan Wolf-in-Exile. Though they have allied themselves with Inner Sphere powers, they have not rejected their heritage and retain all the rites and rituals of a Clan.[1]

In 3060, the entirety of Clan Nova Cat was Abjured by the Grand Council, since the Nova Cats sided with the SLDF during Operation Bulldog, giving their holdings in their Inner Sphere Occupation Zone (OZ) back to their original owners, the Draconis Combine, and openly attacking Clan Smoke Jaguar. During the Great Refusal, the Nova Cats once again sided with the SLDF and defeated Clan Ice Hellion. After the Great Refusal, Clan Star Adder called for a Trial of Annihilation against the Nova Cats, which was rejected by the Grand Council, but a vote for a Trial of Abjuration unanimously passed. The Clans gave the Nova Cats three months to abandon all of their holdings in Clan space, and the Nova Cats were essentially chased out of Clan space by the Crusader Clans.[citation needed]

During the Wars of Reaving, Clan Goliath Scorpion allowed members of the Eridani Light Horse to join the clan as full members. After the war, during a battle against Clan Cloud Cobra, a large amount of Isorla was taken, among this a Scorpion genetic facility. Upon investigation, the Cobras discovered that the Scorpions had been experimentally integrating the Eridani genetic lines into their own, an action which should have required authorization from the Grand Council. Given the heavy influence of Bastion clans, already unhappy with the presence of "tainted" inner sphere warriors within the Scorpions, this authorization would not have been forthcoming. The matter was brought to the Grand Council, and a Trial of Abjuration was immediately approved. Despite this, the Clans moved slowly to carry it out, allowing the Scorpions to evacuate much of their assets to Waypoint 531. The forces left behind fought valiantly in a last ditch effort to preserve their place in Clan society, but were ultimately defeated. The survivors gathered at Waypoint 531, then moved on and conquered Nueva Castile forming the Escorpión Imperio.[citation needed]